Akpata Magazine

Tag: african poet

  • Signs – Nozhan Resalati

    The fireflies shine in the pitch darkness.
    Unique flashing pattern to find a mate!
    Dazzling, alluring, sparkling, mysterious,
    More than a flickering light for a date!
    Isn’t that a sign of appreciation?

    Waking up in the morning,
    Drinking a cup of tea by the window.
    Watching the sunrise through the rain,
    Sunlight kisses a rain droplet.
    Rainbow colors. Like your dreams.
    Isn’t that a sign of imagination?

    The baby looks at its reflection
    In the mirror and laughs. For the first time.
    Luster of eyes, wavy hair, radiant smile.
    Breathing, fogging, rubbing, crying!
    Isn’t that a sign of curiosity?

    You’re lying in bed, in puppy pose,
    Arched back! It’s driving me mad.
    Igniting my flame, killing me again,
    With your hot lips on my skin.
    Isn’t that a sign of passion?

    It’s been thirty years since
    Like a journey through time!
    Although you’ve lost your memory.
    But I know that you are mine!
    And you’ll always be my cherished.
    Isn’t that a sign of faithfulness?

    Author’s Bio

    Nozhan Resalati is a writer and an ESL teacher based in Iran. He writes short stories, flash fiction, nonfiction, and plays. He is in love with words and passionate about literature and cinema. His works are forthcoming in Bending Genres and Bull. You can find him on X @nozhanresalati and Instagram @English_journey86

    Featured Image Credit: CreativeNK

  • The Blue Bird Left No Joy on X – Agboola Tariq A.

    in a video,
    i watch how chaos chases a boy from home.
    on the runway,
    a rifle points him towards heaven’s gate
    & a bullet catches up with him.
    like a pinball arcade,
    a boy is fired into strange horizons
    & the only way home is a road that leads nowhere.
    in a country not far from here,
    blood has washed humanity off its borders.
    bones are mistaken for bricks,
    pandemonium sways like pendulum,
    rockets swinging from both sides,
    & there, a boy stuck at the center of chaos,
    where the only thing that brings light is fire.
    he watches how fire eats up his home
    & doesn’t spare his family.
    tears flowing into storm,
    but it isn’t enough to kill the fire.
    in another video,
    a girl is badly hurt.
    her voice
    collapsing like her father,
    her home, her country.
    her body, buried under burning clouds,
    becomes a log of hope.
    & the birds,
    have taken all that’s left of it.           

    Image Credit: Starboyscotty

    Author’s Bio

    Agboola Tariq A., Swan II, is an unfolding poet from Western Nigeria & an undergraduate student of law at the University of Ibadan. He explores in his writing, self / identity & spaces he occupies. Some of his works are forthcoming/in Brittle Paper, Eunoia Review, Olumo Review, IceFloe Press, The Hellebore Press, Variety Pack, Fiery Scribe Review, The Poetry Journal & elsewhere.  He tweets: @Agboola_Tariq_A